A powerful storm is set to unleash its fury across the eastern half of the United States this weekend, bringing heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, and strong winds. The storm, which began forming on Friday, is expected to disrupt travel and potentially cause power outages in several states.

The system, fueled by energy from a previous atmospheric river in the Northwest, will intensify as it moves across the central United States. By late Friday, the storm will be well-organized and make its way towards the Midwest, where its impact will be felt the most.

As the storm strengthens and expands its reach on Saturday, adverse weather conditions will extend over 1,200 miles from the Gulf Coast to the Canadian border. Thunderstorms will develop Friday evening, primarily affecting parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. These isolated severe thunderstorms are expected to precede a more significant threat on Saturday.

The main thunderstorm event is anticipated to begin across the South on late Saturday morning as a cold front associated with the storm moves eastward. Some of these thunderstorms have the potential to become severe, with damaging wind gusts, hail, and even tornadoes. The greatest risk for severe thunderstorms, classified as a Level 2 of 5, is forecasted from eastern Texas through western Tennessee and northern Alabama on Saturday afternoon.

Rainfall will also be widespread as the storm progresses. Starting in the early hours of Saturday, rain will move across the Midwest and Mississippi Valley, spreading eastward throughout the day. Heavy rain is expected, especially from the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley, which could lead to flooding in some areas. Gusty winds accompanying the rain will further exacerbate the conditions.

While most of the Midwest will experience primarily rain, there is a possibility of a thin stripe of accumulating snow from Wisconsin to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. However, the storm is expected to be mainly a rain event for these regions.

By Sunday, the storm will reach its peak strength, engulfing much of the East. Widespread gusts of 40 to 50 mph will buffet the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with gusts expected to reach up to 60 mph in New England and coastal portions of New York and New Jersey. These strong winds, coupled with drenching rain, may cause power outages, disrupt travel, and potentially damage trees and outdoor decorations.

Rainfall will be the primary form of precipitation from Florida to New England, with amounts of 1 to 2 inches anticipated. Higher totals are possible in areas that are repeatedly hit by downpours. Some thunderstorms may become severe on Sunday, particularly in an area stretching from the Florida Panhandle to Virginia, with damaging wind gusts as the primary threat.

As the storm progresses, cold air will push into the East, leading to a changeover from rain to wet snow in higher elevations of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and upstate New York on Sunday night. A wintry mix of rain, snow, and freezing rain may also affect portions of New England late Sunday night through Monday.

The storm is expected to gradually move off the East Coast on Monday, but rain and snow will persist in New England and parts of upstate New York. The high elevations of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine may experience accumulating wet snow through Monday evening. Windy conditions will gradually subside in most of the Northeast, except for New England, where strong winds will persist into Monday night.

As the storm clears, a significant drop in temperatures is expected across the eastern half of the country on Monday. The contrast between the weekend's above-average December temperatures and the cooler weather will be most noticeable from the Southeast to the Northeast.

Overall, this powerful storm will bring a variety of hazardous weather conditions to the eastern half of the United States, including heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, strong winds, and even some snow in certain regions. Residents are urged to stay informed and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during this disruptive weather event.